ip a tttat tp



(No Model.)

V. ULKE.

WAIsT GARMENT.

No. 377,389, Patented Jan. 31, 1888.

N. PETERS. Phowumo n her. Washington. D, c.

UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

VERONICA ULKE, OF XVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

WAIST-GARM ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,339, dated January 31, 1888.

Application filed September 16, 1887. Serial No. 249,832. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VERONICA ULKE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vaist-Garments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to waist-garments provided with means for supporting the lower garment, especially trousers, about the waist; and the primary object of my invention is to render the means of support for the lower garment elastic, in order that it may yield to and stretch with the bending of the body of the wearer.

Another object of my improvement is to provide a waist-garment with attachments that will permit the construction of the same entirely without buttons.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, I have illustrated a suitable embodiment of my invention,which, however, may be variously changed in details of construction without departing from the fundamental idea which underlies the same.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an upper garment, known as a shirt-waist, with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view of an elastic belt constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 3 is a plan view of another form of elastic belt; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of a braided stud-strip, preferably used with my improvement.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1,

\ there is shown a shirt-waist of ordinary con struction, having a number of button-holes, A A, at proper distances apart about the waistline.

B is a belt consisting of a ribbon of elastic material provided at its two ends with means for closing the belt-such as hooks and eyes or clasps-as shown. This belt is of such length as to fit comfortably around the waist of the wearer, and is somewhat shorter than the waist-line of the garment. To this belt are fastened buttons (3 0, one less in number than the number of button-holes in the waist-line of the garment. These buttons are secured near the upper edge of the belt, and they are spaced to correspond to the spacing of the button-holes, so that when the belt is applied to the waist-line on the inner side of the garment, as shown, with the buttons toward said inner side, there will be a button-hole for each button ready to engage the same; but since the number of buttonsis less in number by one than the number of button-holes, one of thelatternamely, button-hole A-will remain disengaged.

In use, each button upon the belt is passed through its corresponding button-hole in the waist-line, as is clearly indicated in the drawings, whereupon the buttons will all appear on the outside of the waist-line, as if they were directly fastened to the same in the usual manner.

By reference to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen, as indicated above, that the buttons are not secured to the middle of the belt, but nearer the upper edge of the same. This feature I consider of special importance, for reasons which will presently appear. Vhen the belt is thus applied to the garment, and when in use, it is drawn around the waist and is closed in front by the clasp D, and the button-hole A is slipped over the last button 0 on the righthand end of the belt. The garment is now ready for the attachment of trousers which are ordinarily used therewith. These tro users are provided with button-holes about the waistline, as usual, which should correspond with the buttons on the belt, over which buttons they are slipped.

It will now be easily understood that by reason of the elasticity of the belt B any strain exerted upon any one button, either by the bending of the body of the wearer, as in stooping, jumping, or other exercises, or by a direct pull upon either the upper or lower garment, such strain will at once be distributed over the whole belt, and therefore upon all the buttons. For this reason there will be less liability of injury to the button-holes or to the buttons than in the usual shirt waist, for in the latter the buttons are attached in such a way that a strain upon one button will notbe transmitted to the others.

The advantage derived from the attachment of the buttons near the upper edge of the belt will now be easily understood. A considerable strain upon any one button will pull that part of the upper edge of the belt near which said button is attached through the buttonhole, thereby lengthening the connection between the shirt-waist and trousers, while the lower part of the belt .will remain inside. As soon as the strain is removed, as when the wearer resumes his normal position,the belt, by reason of its elasticity, will also tend to assume its normal form, and the upper edge ofthe same will be withdrawn from the buttou-hole and resume its original position.

For closing the waist-garment in front, a row of button-holes, E E, is provided along each front strip, as usual. I then provide a strip, F, of braided or other like material, of such length as to extend from the neck to the waistline. This strip Ishall hereinafter name the stud-strip. It forms at its lower end a loop, G, and has secured to it a number of studs, H H, either during the process of braiding the strip or in any other suitable manner. These studs are so spaced as to register with the button-holes E E in the front strips, and in use they are passed from the inside of the right front strip through the corresponding button-holes, as shown in Fig. 1. Loop G is passed over button 0 at one end of the belt before said button is passed through the last button-hole on the Waist-line. In this condition the garment is ready for use, and it will be clear that the droppingout and loss of single studs, which ow frequently occurs, will be effectively prevented by my improvement.

A waist-garment constructed in accordance with my invention is practically buttonless, for the elastic belt and the stud-strip are readily detachable, and will be detached when the garment is to be washed.

It is not necessary that the belt B be made entirely of elastic material, for it is quite practicable to make the same of alternate sections of elastic and inelastic material, as is indicated in Fig. 3, where b bmay represent such-alternate sections.

My elastic waist-belt may also be used in a somewhat difierent manner, though practically for the same purpose-namely, to hold up the trousers in the waistline without the use of suspenders.

If the belt, as hereinbefore described, is

simply buttoned into the inner side of the waistband of boys trousers, (provided with corresponding button-holes,) and is closed in front by clasps or otherwise, these trousers will be effectually held in place upon the waistline over any shirt or other waist garment, and give a tidy appearance to the same.

It will thus be seen that my elastic waistbelt, constructed as hereinbefore described, is adapted for use independently of a shirt-waist or other upper garment, as well as in connection therewith.

Such and other modifications will readily stantially as described.

2. The combination of awaist garment having a number of button-holes about the waistline,with an elastic belt extending around the waist-line on the inner side of the garment,

and buttons correspondingto the button-holes on the waist-line secured to and near the upper edge of the belt, substantially as described.-

3. The combination of a waist-garmenthaving a number of button-holes around the waist line, with a belt extending around the waistline on the inner side of the garment, and buttons corresponding to the button-holes on the waist-line secured to elastic sections of the belt, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesscs.

VERON IGA ULKE.

Witnesses:

G. S. DRURY, A. J. MILLER. 

